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July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Everyday Life • Color

Chartreuse

Chartreuse refers to a French herbal liqueur made by Carthusian monks and to the yellow-green color named after it.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Chartreuse is a French herbal liqueur made by Carthusian monks, and a vivid yellow-green colour named after it. The term is most commonly used for either the liqueur or the colour.

What it is

Chartreuse liqueur has been produced by Carthusian monks since 1737, using a secret recipe of 130 herbs, plants, and flowers. It comes in two main versions: Green Chartreuse (55% ABV, stronger and less sweet) and Yellow Chartreuse (40% ABV, milder and sweeter).

Why it matters

The colour chartreuse—a bright yellow-green—takes its name from the liqueur. It is a standard colour term in English, often used in design, fashion, and everyday description. The liqueur itself is prized in cocktail culture for its unique herbal flavour.

Key details

Chartreuse appears in cocktails like the Last Word, and also refers to a French dish of vegetables or meat wrapped in leaves. In Canada, Chartreuse is sold as an imported liqueur, and the colour is a familiar descriptor. There is no close substitute for the liqueur due to its secret botanical blend.

In short

  • Chartreuse is a French herbal liqueur made by Carthusian monks from a secret 130-herb recipe.
  • Green Chartreuse is stronger (55% ABV); Yellow Chartreuse is milder (40% ABV).
  • The colour chartreuse is a yellow-green hue named after the liqueur.
  • Chartreuse is a key ingredient in classic cocktails and a term for a French dish.
Canadian angle

Chartreuse is familiar to Canadian readers mainly as a cocktail ingredient, a color term, and an imported French liqueur sold in Canadian liquor markets.

Quick questions

What is chartreuse?
Chartreuse is a term most commonly used for a French herbal liqueur and for a yellow-green colour named after that liqueur.
What is chartreuse green vs yellow?
Green Chartreuse is stronger and less sweet, while Yellow Chartreuse is milder, sweeter, and lower in alcohol. Both are based on the same monastic tradition but differ in formula and flavour profile.
What is a chartreuse substitute?
There is no close one-to-one substitute for Chartreuse because of its unique botanical profile. Bartenders sometimes approximate it with other herbal liqueurs, but the result is not the same.

Sources

  1. Taste France — https://www.tastefrance.com/us/magazine/french-pantry/everything-you-need-know-about-chartreuse
    Supports: Chartreuse as a French liqueur made with 130 herbs and botanicals; first produced by Carthusian monks in 1737.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chartreuse_(liqueur)
    Supports: Chartreuse as a French herbal liqueur made by Carthusian monks since 1737; 130 herbs and plants; Green Chartreuse details.
  3. National Geographic — https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/what-is-chartreuse
    Supports: Chartreuse as a secret-recipe liqueur made by Carthusian monks in France.
  4. Dictionary.com — https://www.dictionary.com/browse/chartreuse
    Supports: Chartreuse as a liqueur and as a color; definitions of both meanings.
  5. Merriam-Webster — https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chartreuse
    Supports: Chartreuse as a color averaging brilliant yellow green and as a liqueur term.
  6. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chartreuse_(color)
    Supports: Chartreuse color as a shade between yellow and green; yellow-green / greenish yellow description.
  7. GuildSomm — https://www.guildsomm.com/public_content/features/articles/b/virginie-boone/posts/what-you-should-know-about-chartreuse
    Supports: Green and yellow Chartreuse differences; ingredients; production notes; cocktail relevance.
  8. The Spruce Eats — https://www.thespruceeats.com/about-chartreuse-liqueur-760267
    Supports: Chartreuse as an herbal liqueur; two varieties; limited substitution value.